England vs India Cricket Test Series 2025 Preview, Best Bets & Predicted Line Ups: A New Era Begins🏏

Cricket fans are in for a treat as England host India in a five-Test series starting June 20 at Headingley, marking the beginning of a pivotal summer for Ben Stokes' men. This series kicks off the final stretch of the Bazball era, with a daunting Ashes tour to follow. For India, this is the dawn of a new era, their first Test tour without legends Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R. Ashwin.

Let’s break down the key storylines, squads, expected playing XIs, betting tips, and what’s at stake.

A Historic Series: The Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy

This series marks the inaugural edition of the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy, replacing the Pataudi Trophy. Honouring two of the game’s greatest, this new silverware commemorates Sachin Tendulkar’s batting genius and James Anderson’s record-breaking fast bowling legacy.

England Squad & Predicted Playing XI

Despite injuries to Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood, England maintain a competitive side. Head coach Brendon McCullum has backed the depth in his squad, highlighting a blend of youth and experience in the bowling attack.

Predicted England XI:

1. Zak Crawley
2. Ben Duckett
3. Ollie Pope
4. Joe Root
5. Harry Brook
6. Ben Stokes (c)
7. Jamie Smith (wk)
8. Chris Woakes
9. Sam Cook
10. Josh Tongue
11. Shoaib Bashir

Jacob Bethell is in contention, especially if England look to bolster the batting, possibly at the expense of Pope or Duckett. The bowling will rely heavily on Woakes' experience, with quicks like Tongue and Cook bringing heat, and Bashir providing spin.

India’s Next Generation Takes the Field

India enter unfamiliar territory, playing a Test series in England without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, or Ravichandran Ashwin for the first time in over a decade. New skipper Shubman Gill and vice-captain Rishabh Pant will lead a transitional squad filled with young talent and players on the comeback trail.

Predicted India XI:

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal
2. KL Rahul
3. Karun Nair
4. Shubman Gill (c)
5. Rishabh Pant (wk)
6. Ravindra Jadeja
7. Nitish Kumar Reddy
8. Shardul Thakur
9. Jasprit Bumrah
10. Mohammed Siraj
11. Prasidh Krishna

Karun Nair’s stunning double century in the warm-up games likely secures him the No. 3 spot over debutant Sai Sudharsan. Eyes will be on Jaiswal, the fourth-ranked Test batter, and Pant, who returns as one of the most destructive players in red-ball cricket.

Spotlight: Joe Root's Red-Hot Form

After a dip last year, Joe Root has returned to elite form. A century in Zimbabwe and dominant performances against Pakistan and New Zealand have reaffirmed his status as England’s batting linchpin. With 11 centuries against India, Root is the clear danger man, and likely to dominate at Headingley, his home ground.

Head-to-Head: England's Fortress at Home

India have only won 3 out of 19 Test series in England. The last time they avoided defeat was in the dramatic 2021 series, which ended 2-2 after the postponed fifth Test in 2022.

England’s recent form at home has been impressive, with only one loss in their last nine Tests. India, meanwhile, are coming off a bruising 4-1 defeat at home to England and a dismal away series in Australia.

Series Schedule

• 1st Test: June 20-24 - Headingley
• 2nd Test: July 2-6 - Edgbaston
• 3rd Test: July 10-14 - Lord’s
• 4th Test: July 23-27 - Old Trafford
• 5th Test: July 31-Aug 4 - The Oval

Betting Tips: Best Bets For The First Test

Looking to make the most of your cricket insights? Here are some value picks from the markets:

🔥 Top Match Batsman Odds:

• Joe Root - $5.50
• Harry Brook - $6.50
• Yashasvi Jaiswal - $7.50
• Shubman Gill - $8.00

🏆 Match Result:

• England to win - $1.48

Place your England vs India Cricket Test Match bets here!

Odds are accurate as of 2am UTC, 18th June 2025

Final Thoughts

This series represents both an ending and a beginning. For England, it could be the final flourish of the Bazball chapter before the Ashes. For India, it’s the first steps into a new red-ball era. With rising stars, historic venues, and an iconic new trophy, everything is set for a thrilling summer of Test cricket.

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